Minorcan pair honored as Great Floridians

Past leaders in the Minorcan community, Francisco Pellicer and Xavier Lopez Pellicer Sr. were remembered Saturday with the placing of two Great Floridians plaques in their honor.

The Great Floridians committee in Tallahassee requested that several Minorcan names be submitted to the list of 2,000 to be honored in the state, said Carol Bradshaw, Menorcan Cultural Society vice-president.

Several guidelines had to be followed such as finding a public building to display the plaques and documentation showing their contribution to the history of Florida, she said.

On Saturday, Bradshaw, city officials and Pellicer descendants first gathered at the Pellicer-DeBurgo House on St. George Street to place Francisco's plaque and then at the Llambias House on St. Francis Street to do the same for Xavier Lopez.

Bradshaw said that Francisco played an important part in obtaining freedom for the Minorcans by leading the first of the Minorcan families out of New Smyrna to St. Augustine.

Francisco's plaque was placed at 53 St. George St. in front of a replica of one of his homes in the ''Minorcan Quarters.''

Xavier Lopez is a direct descendant of Francisco and in his lifetime led a movement to recognize Minorcan history in St. Augustine, said Bradshaw.

''His Minorcan heritage was very dear to his heart. Mr. Pellicer wanted the heritage to be preserved for generations to come,'' she said.

Ted Pellicer, Xavier Lopez's son, said his father would have been proud of the plaque and recognition he's received.

''He was so very proud of St. Augustine. He loved St. Augustine,'' he said.

A plaque now sits in front of the Llambias House, a place he helped to restore.

Minorca is one of the islands of the Balearic Islands, a province of Spain. Minorca is the ancestral homeland of many of the city's present-day residents.

Paul Williamson, city public affairs director, said a booklet will soon be available listing all the Great Floridians and the plaque locations.

Earlier in the day, Williamson said Verle A. Pope, Florida Senate President from 1967 to 1968 and state senator for St. Johns County for 20 years, and F. Charles Usina, a member of the Florida House of Representatives from St. Johns County for 20 years, received the same honor as Great Floridians at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.

The blue, circular plaques are a part of the Great Floridians 2000 program, which honors those associated with St. Augustine's history and culture. It is a partnership between the Florida Department of State and the Florida League of Cities.

The program was established by the Florida Legislature in 1997 as part of the Department of State's Historical Marker Program. The goal is to recognize 2000 Floridians of the state's past.

More plaque postings in St. Augustine are expected to be held soon around town.